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Detecting the short term impact of soil and water conservation practices from incomplete monitoring records - A case study from the Tana sub-basin, Ethiopia
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  • Liya Weldegebriel,
  • Mikaela Kruskopf,
  • Sally Thompson ,
  • Kibret Tebeje
Liya Weldegebriel
University of California Berkeley

Corresponding Author:liyanet@berkeley.edu

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Mikaela Kruskopf
Niras
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Sally Thompson
University of California Berkeley College of Engineering
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Kibret Tebeje
Amhara National Regional State Water, Irrigation & Energy Development Bureau
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Abstract

Efforts to tackle land degradation worldwide have spurred the adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices intended to reduce surface runoff and erosion. Despite their widespread implementation, missing or incomplete monitoring remains a pervasive problem preventing evaluation of how well SWC practices meet these aims. Key metrics to evaluate SWC efficacy are the production of flow per unit rainfall (runoff ratio), and exported sediment (sediment concentration). We develop a method to assess changes in these metrics in the absence of a flow rating curve, using more complete and reliable measurements of stage (flow depth). We apply these methods to incomplete monitoring datasets collected from five watersheds included in the Tana and Beles Integrated Water Resource Development Project (TBIWRDP) in the Abay (Blue Nile) basin, Ethiopia. Changes in runoff ratio and sediment concentration relative to the first year of treatment varied by season. In the long wet season (Kiremt) that generates most runoff and erosion, reductions in runoff ratio occurred in three watersheds, and reductions in sediment concentration in four watersheds. Reductions in the runoff ratio were directly proportional to the areal density of SWC treatments in the watersheds, suggesting that SWC treatments were effective in controlling runoff and erosion. We suggest that stage and sediment concentration information can be used to assess watershed responses to SWC treatments. Focusing on these relatively robust measurements, may facilitate the design of reliable and affordable monitoring programs, and ultimately facilitate improved financing approaches based on reasonable estimates of likely SWC practice performance.
07 Mar 2020Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
12 Mar 2020Submission Checks Completed
12 Mar 2020Assigned to Editor
15 Mar 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
24 Apr 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Apr 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
27 Jun 20201st Revision Received
29 Jun 2020Submission Checks Completed
29 Jun 2020Assigned to Editor
29 Jul 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Jul 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
10 Aug 20202nd Revision Received
14 Aug 2020Submission Checks Completed
14 Aug 2020Assigned to Editor
24 Aug 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Aug 2020Editorial Decision: Accept